flat Tyre repair query

mutley74

My dad who is over 60+ had a flat tyre at home. His car breakdown cover does not cover home start.

He asked a local garage (under 1 mile away) for help. They said he should drive slowly to the garage and they can then change his tyre for him. So he did drive to the garage on a flat tyre. Just curious what others think of this advice from the garage? I am not happy and would not driving more than a few yards on a flat tyre.

Was thinking if he gets a flat tyre again the future if these flat tyre repair canisters sold in fuel stations are any good? Can a tyre still be repaired after they have been temporarily inflated with the foam? I have seen them on sale for less than a tenner and would like some feedback on how effective they are.


( I have told him to try to upgrade his breakdown cover to homestart as well but don’t think he will).

movilogo

If the flat tyre is detected at an early stage and it is tubeless tyre type, one can run good 15-20 miles without any damage. 2 months back it happened to me on the road. I drove around 5 miles to a Kwikfit and get it repaired there.

However, if it is completely flat, then you run the risk of damaging wheel rim if you drive.

rizla01

Driving on a tyre that is underinflated is ILLLEGAL and highly DANGEROUS.

I think that answers your question.

and unless your dad lives in an area that is prone to resulting in punctures then I wouldn't bother with the cannister. It'll probably be years before he gets another - if ever.

oldbuffer

Driving on a flat tyre can be extra expensive as well. If the rim cuts the wall of the tyre you may find that no one will repair it. What may have been a simple puncture repair could mean a new tyre.

Viz_2

Couldn't he have used the spare wheel ?
Or taken the wheel off the car and taken it to a garage to be repaired/re-newed, then put back on car himself ?

mutley74

Thanks for replies.

No he could not change wheel himself. He is over 60 and has back problems.

Tyre was completely flat from what he told me. I was disappointed that the garage told him to drive on it and agree he risked causing more damage to the car. This is a local garage that I did not like using in the past due to poor customer service. Shall I tell the council trading standards that they are giving incorrect advice i.e. telling people its okay to drive on a flat tyre?

Luckily the tyre was due for a changing in any case as it was close to legal limit.

Yes I think its probably the only 2nd flat tyre we have all had as a family within past 5 years as afar as I can recall.

saintjanet

If a tyre is really flat you should not consider driving on it,however as a driver everyone should be aware of this,the garage may have thought he had a slow puncture and that is why they advised him to drive on it.

I would have pumped it up,or got someone to do it for him to see if it would last long enough to reach the garage.He is lucky it did not come off the rim and wreck both rim and tyre.

I dont want to be unkind ,i am no spring chicken myself but if he cant change a tyre himself i would advise him to change his breakdown cover to include home visits.The repair canisters often make it difficult to mend the puncture after so i would not use one.By the way i had two punctures in six months,so you never know!!

greenview1

I had a very similar situation. I found a firm called ETyres (08000289000). A man and van arrived next day and fitted a new tyre (half the price of Kwikfit)
quick cheap and efficient. Brilliant.

Viz_2

atpug wrote:

No he could not change wheel himself. He is over 60 and has back problems.

Tyre was completely flat from what he told me.

Yes I think its probably the only 2nd flat tyre we have all had as a family within past 5 years as afar as I can recall.

Could you or one of your family not have taken the wheel off, to the garage, and put a new tyre on for him ?

mutley74

Viz wrote:

Could you or one of your family not have taken the wheel off, to the garage, and put a new tyre on for him ?

Yes good point. I was at work and planned to do it when I got back home. Neighbour was not available at the time.

Thanks

mutley74

Viz wrote:

Could you or one of your family not have taken the wheel off, to the garage, and put a new tyre on for him ?

Yes good point. I was at work and planned to do it when I got back home. Neighbour was not available at the time.

Thanks